Tithing Or Not: Should Lead Pastors Know What Church Staff Give?

Lead pastors often provide management oversight of staff. But should they know what church staff give to the church? Josh and Sam break down the arguments on both sides, examine potential safeguards, and discuss how church culture and pastoral character shape the best approach.

1. 1. Start with three key areas: What is your policy (staff requirement or not)? What are the longstanding accepted practices? What is outlined in the personnel manual or employee handbook?
   2. There are strong arguments both for and against giving visibility. Supporters emphasize pastoral care, spiritual insight, and better discernment, while critics highlight the dangers of favoritism, privacy concerns, and compromised motivation.
   3. Pastoral character and church culture matter. The same policy can be healthy in one church and harmful in another, depending on trust levels, leadership integrity, and communication patterns.
   4. Best practices: Weekly reports are overkill (and paranoid). An annual check is adequate for most churches.
   5. If you are the lead pastor, what is the motivation? Curiosity or care? Do you want to be helpful, or do you want to use the information as leadership leverage?
   6. Good middle ground: Have the financial bookkeeper share whether a pattern of faithfulness is present or trends are moving in the wrong direction without sharing specific amounts.

Resources:

• Doctor of Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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• Church Answers Central

• The Hope Initiative

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